Please choose one submission method — you do not need to submit through both.
AI Short Films & Dramas
Encourages the use of AI to create in-depth narratives centered on Ningbo's landscapes, customs, local culture, products, and refined aesthetics. AI-powered reinterpretation of cultural heritage such as the Grand Canal, the Maritime Silk Road, and Eastern Zhejiang academic traditions is highly encouraged.
Horizontal or vertical · 2–30 min
AI Animation & Intangible Heritage
Focuses on AI in animation production and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage (e.g. restoration of ancient texts at Tianyi Pavilion, gold-painted lacquerware).
Episodes 60–300s · Shorts 5–90s
AI Music Videos
AI-generated music combined with AI-generated visual imagery. Incorporating Ningbo elements or contemporary youth attitudes is encouraged.
Minimum 2 min
Open Exploration
A completely open creative space with no thematic restrictions.
Short-form 15–90s · Shorts 2 min+
Simon Weaving
Associate Professor, University of Nottingham Ningbo China
A filmmaker, festival director, and film critic. He serves as Joint Administrator of the ARRI Asia Virtual Production Studio alongside Dr Levi Dean, and leads the XR and Immersive Digital Media research stream within the International Studies Programme (ISP), focusing on generative digital assets, virtual narrative construction, and AI-driven immersive film creation.
Levi Dean
Assistant Professor in Screen Production, University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Specialising in cinematography, colour grading, screenwriting, and virtual production. As Core Lead for Asia's first ARRI Virtual Production & Motion Capture Studio (UNNC, launched 2025), Levi brings extensive experience from the UK and Swedish film industries, including an AHRC-funded virtual production research project with ARRI.
Zhu Feng
Associate Professor, School of Theater, Film and Television, Communication University of China
Dedicated to integrating AI into film and television pedagogy. He teaches the pioneering course “Frontiers of AIGC and Digital Art,” and has supervised AI and XR works that have won over 30 professional awards both domestically and internationally.
Qiu Sheng
Film Director · Jury, 2026 Shanghai International Film Festival
His AI work For Example, My Father's Son won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival, and A Dollar Story won Best Action Short Film at the Cannes World AI Film Festival. His debut feature Suburban Birds won Best Feature Film at the FIRST International Film Festival, Best Film at Novos Cinemas (Spain), and the NETPAC Award at the Macau International Film Festival.
Five award categories, each accompanied by a substantial cash prize.
Beyond the prize money, participants gain access to global AIGC creation workshops and masterclasses led by leading industry experts, plus valuable networking opportunities. Outstanding teams can pitch their projects to investors and corporate partners, and exceptional works will be screened at multiple venues.